Ukrainian parliament adopts constitutional, electoral reforms

Ukraine's parliament on Wednesday approved a reform package on election and constitution aimed at ending the nation's political crisis.

Under the package, adopted by a vote of 402-21, some changes will be made to the electoral law to avoid fraud in the Dec. 26 re-run of the presidential runoff and some constitutional changes will also be made to transfer some president's powers to the parliament.

"Over the past 100 years, Ukraine has more than once suffered through a crisis, but there was always enough common sense to find a way out and a decision," Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma said while signing the measure in the chamber.

The new bill envisions Ukraine's transition to a parliamentary-presidential form of governance, forming the country's government by a coalition of parliamentary factions, and extending parliament's term of office to five years, according to Interfax.

In addition, the document transfers much presidential powers to parliament, which will now be authorized to appoint the president's nominees for prime minister, defense minister and foreign minister, and candidates for other members of government nominated by the prime minister.

Supporters of opposition candidate Viktor Yushchenko had pressed for electoral changes but they had opposed the constitutional changes, which would weaken the power of a president.

In another development on Wednesday, the parliament agreed to dissolve the Central Election Commission and replace it with a new commission.

Lawmakers are now voting on who will be on the new commission but it is likely that the vast majority of the members would retain their seats.

Ukraine has been bogged down in a political crisis since Nov. 21 when the presidential run-off handed victory to Prime Minister Yanukovich and sparked opposition accusations of vote rigging and protests.